Nonfiction Choices for Children | Darien

1) Napoleon vs. the bunnies

Author

Description

"Everyone knows the Battle of Waterloo was Napoleon Bonaparte's most crushing defeat, right? Well, some beg to differ. It seems there was another less famous (though perhaps more humiliating) surrender in his past. Let's call it Bunnyloo. In 1807, Napoleon had ordered his chief of staff to round up rabbits for a celebratory hunt, only, he collected domesticated rabbits, not wild ones. So, when the rabbits were released to begin the hunt, they didn't...

2) Facts vs. opinions vs. robots

Author

Description

"Robots try to figure out the difference between facts and opinions"-- Provided by publisher.

3) Magic ramen: the story of Momofuku Ando

Author

Author

Description

"This inspirational picture book memoir from the world's first openly gay professional strongman competitor speaks to the joyful power of discovering your strengths."--Back cover This fictional autobiography follows Rob Kearney as he grows from a strong teen to a professional strongman and finds the courage to wear rainbows to the North American championship. Includes author's note.

5) How this book was made: based on a true story

Author

Description

Presents the journey of a book's creation, from its initial writing and illustrating to its misadventures with pirates and an angry tiger.

6) Planting stories: the life of librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré

Author

Description

"From the author of MONSTER TRUCK and STARRING CARMEN comes a gorgeous and lyrical story about Pura Belpré, a Puerto Rican librarian who changed the world"-- Provided by publisher.

7) Six dots: a story of young Louis Braille

Author

8) Carter reads the newspaper

Author

Hopkinson, Deborah

Description

"Carter G. Woodson was born ten years after the end of the Civil War, to parents who had both been enslaved. Their stories were not the ones written about in history books, but Carter learned them and kept them in his heart. Carter's father could not read or write, but he believed in being an informed citizen. So Carter read the newspaper to him every day, and from this practice, he learned about the world and how to find out what he didn't know....

9) Bear goes sugaring

Author

Eaton, Maxwell, III

Description

"Learn how to make syrup the old fashioned way with the help of a friendly bear and her amusingly unhelpful accomplices Dog and Squirrel in this informative comics-style picture book."-- Provided by publisher.

10) Yes we will: Asian Americans who shaped this country

Author

Description

"A lyrical nonfiction picture book featuring eighteen Asian American changemakers and two pivotal moments in Asian American history, illustrated by fifteen renowned Asian and Asian American artists"-- Provided by publisher.

11) A seed grows

Author

Portis, Antoinette

Formats:

Book, eBook, Kindle

Description

"An educational picture book about the life cycle of a sunflower"-- Provided by publisher.

12) Fauja Singh keeps going: the true story of the oldest person to ever run a marathon

Author

Singh, Simran Jeet

Description

"The inspiring true story of Fauja Singh, who broke world records to become the first one hundred-year-old to run a marathon, shares valuable lessons on the source of his grit, determination to overcome obstacles, and commitment to positive representation of the Sikh community"-- Provided by publisher.

13) Destiny finds her way: how a rescued baby sloth learned to be wild

Author

Engle, Margarita

Formats:

Description

"When Destiny was found by the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, she was sick, thin, and one of her eyes was closed and not working. The Sloth Institute took her in and introduced her to other sloths as she started to recover. She never regained the use of her one eye, but that didn't stop Destiny from hanging out with her new buddies, or getting healthier and stronger. Last August, Destiny was fitted for her tracking collar and released back into the...

14) Katherine Johnson

Author

Description

Meet Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician who worked at NASA in the early 1950s until retiring in 1986. Katherines unparalleled calculations (done by hand) helped plan the trajectories for NASAs Mercury and Apollo missions (including the Apollo 11 moon landing). She is said to be one of the greatest American minds of all time.

15) The rice in the pot goes round and round

Author

Shang, Wendy Wan Long

Formats:

Description

Presents a song set to the tune of "The wheels on the bus," where a multigenerational family enjoys a culturally rich meal.

16) Killer underwear invasion!: how to spot fake news, disinformation & conspiracy theories

Author

Formats:

Book, eAudiobook, eBook

Description

"In this hilarious, yet fact-filled book, Elise Gravel uses her kid-friendly wit and quirky illustration style to break down what fake news is, why people spread it, and how to tell what is real and what isn't. And that's the truth!"-- Provided by publisher.

17) Her right foot

Author

Formats:

Book, eAudiobook, eBook, Kindle

Description

If you had to name a statue, any statue, odds are good you'd mention the Statue of Liberty. Have you seen her?
She's in New York.
She's holding a torch.
And she's taking one step forward.
But why?
In this fascinating, fun take on nonfiction, uniquely American in its frank tone and honest look at the literal foundation of our country, Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris investigate a seemingly small trait of America's most emblematic statue....

18) Tracking trash: flotsam, jetsam, and the science of ocean motion

Author

Burns, Loree Griffin

Description

Describes the work of scientist Curtis Ebbesmeyer, whose multiyear project of tracking plastic items accidently spilled by ocean cargo ships has heightened awareness of the dangers that these items present to ocean life and has inspired similar projects for other types of debris

19) Brain games: the mind-blowing science of your amazing brain

Author

Swanson, Jennifer

Description

"QUICK: Name the most powerful and complex supercomputer ever built. Give up? Here's a hint: It's housed in your head and it's the one thing that makes you YOU. Your brain is mission control for the rest of your body and steers you through life. Not bad for something the size of a softball that looks like a wrinkled grey sponge! In this fascinating, interactive book -- a companion to the National Geographic Channel hit show - kids explore the parts...

20) Crossings: extraordinary structures for extraordinary animals

Author

Description

"A non-fiction exploration of animal crossings built by animal lovers around the world to help animals cross over, under, around, and through human construction"-- Provided by publisher.